Concord, Massachussetts

Amy found herself in the yogurt section trying to decide what flavor she wanted. She was back at Concord. Time moved so slowly without sketches to deliver or work at the museum. Life in the small town was uneventful as always. She was now talking to Anette who got a temporal job back at home at the French Ministry of Culture. The work was mainly administrative and she didn't sound very enthusiastic about it, but it was something. Amy remembered that Anette had talked to her about this program where artists are able to paint the Cathedral just as Monet did. She had been excited to visit Paris again and try it. Of course, now that chance was long gone.

She had passed through all of the corridors and she was bored as hell but it was raining outside. She walked towards the door to see if the rain had stopped when she saw him. At the same moment, he looked straight at her, almost as if he knew she was there. Time stood for a second as they looked at each other in shock, neither of them moved. She thought the next time they were going to see each other it was going to be awkward. He did too. Maybe they also thought it was going to be easier than last time or that they were going to be able to act it up in front of everyone. And just like last time, the moment they lay eyes on each other, all those feelings came up one more time. To be honest, they never left.

.

.
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"You're back?" Amy asked as he drove towards their street. There was no use in denying his offer of a ride. The storm was getting worse and she needed to go back.

"I wanted to be here for Beth. Grandfather is very proud, so I thought I could come."

"You could have texted me."

"I wasn't sure you'd answered." He said without taking his eyes off the road.

"It was just weird to see you here all of a sudden. You could have warned me."

"Warn you?"

"You know what I mean."

"It was a surprise for her, so..."

.

"You're with Parker now. I hear. That's nice of you, he's always liked you." Sean had told him about it over Skype. He wasn't angry… maybe a little bit. He knew, everyone knew, that Parker had been infatuated by Amy since he saw her seven years ago. Of course, back then Amy never showed any sign of reciprocity. More than often she would avoid him and whenever she was forced to face him, she was nice but never enough to give him the wrong impression. And then, she began dating Fred and others, and Parker just gave up.

"I'm just giving him a chance. Maybe I judge him too soon. I've been wrong before." She replied. She wasn't lying completely, but she wasn't saying the real reasons either. Oh no, cause telling the truth would imply accepting that their break up screwed with her more than she was able to admit and that she was still bitter at him for not even suggesting she could stay with him. It was like he didn't care if she stayed or not. If he really would have wanted her there, he would have said something, right?

The thing with Parker started as a one-night stand after a party. Parker was there and it was nice to feel loved and treasured. And although that wasn't something Amy usually did, she could have left it there and moved forward. She could have done that with any other man, but Parker… How could she dump someone who had adored her for so long, and make him feel used? She just couldn't. So she gave in, accepted the dates, the flowers, the kisses, and more. Parker didn't make her feel safe and confident, and her knees didn't feel weak when he was near nor she blushed whenever he told her how beautiful she was, but he tried. Probably, he was trying too much which just intensified Amy's guilt.

"What about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No."

"Embracing the single lifestyle." She said sarcastically.

"Yeah. You know me."

"I did, once." She said coldly. He turned to look at her but she undid the seatbelt ready to leave.

"Look, if you don't want to be friends, that's fine. But I think we should at least try to be civil around our families."

"Of course, I want to be friends," she said, softening her tone.

"Ok."

"You want to come in?"

"No."

"It would be weird if you don't."

"Tell them I have something to do. I'll come after dinner."

"Thanks for the lift." She nodded, leaving him in that cold car.

.

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As soon as he got back, his grandfather had questioned him about that. "I thought you were back together again?"

"Not really," he answered. "We were seeing each other."

"You kids, I'll never understand. In my time, everything was much more formal. Either you were together or not."

"We're friends."

"She's dating this boy, Parker?"

"Yeah."

"Are you ok with that?"

"Totally."

.

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Not every day, a girl from a small town in Massachusetts got the honor of performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for being one of the most talented students about to graduate. Beth received the news just before the end of the academic year and had kept it a surprise for when Amy came back. So, there was something good about having to come back for the summer.

It was a very elegant evening. Jo hated formal occasions but she would do anything for her sweet sister. And Amy had to do the same, faking smiles and hugs when Laurie appeared. Everyone sat in the same row, except for Jo and Laurie. Their seats were just behind the rest. Everything seemed pretty normal.

The orchestra was already there, checking that their instruments were perfectly tuned as the people took their seats. Meg and Amy were chatting and smiling. The kids had stayed with John's mother for the weekend because they weren't going to stay quiet during the performance so there was no point in bringing them. And honestly, they needed some time off their children. The noises stopped as the lights went off and the director came out. Everyone applauded. Just then, Amy turned backward and caught Laurie. They didn't smile at each other exactly, but there wasn't any anger either.

The concert began and the students performed masterfully. They left Beth for the closing piece, which was the highest honor. She was wearing a beautiful lilac dress that Marmee did herself. She looked beautiful as she bowed gratefully at the audience and took her place in front of the piano.

Laurie wanted to pay attention to the concert, truly. Just every now and then his eyes would travel to Amy. She didn't look back again, but she could feel him. Not only her. During the concert, Jo noticed Laurie's head tilted right side. She noticed when she wanted to say something to him and caught him. At first, she wanted to hit him for not paying attention. That was until she noticed his gaze went farther and landed on the head of her little sister. Well, that was odd.

.

After the concert, they offered a cocktail. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, drinking and chatting more. Marmee couldn't stop taking pictures of Beth and her friends and sisters.

"What's wrong with you?" Jo returned to Laurie who was acting like a wallflower.

"Nothing," he said, drinking from his glass. They saw Amy exciting the room for a moment.

"Ugg, I bet it is Parker calling her." Jo teased but Laurie remained silent. "Honestly, I don't understand why Amy is dating him, he's so desperate!" Laurie just nodded. Of course, Parker would be desperate, he had been waiting for this for years! "Did you know he's staying in Europe after the summer?" That was new, although completely expected. Amy was the kind of woman that made men do crazy things. He himself has traveled 6 hours on a train every weekend to see her, and then he chose Florence because of the program but also because of her. He couldn't blame Parker for doing the same. He just wished things didn't get awkward.

"Did you guys fight or something?"

"What! No."

"Because you are in the same city, and you have barely talked to each other here..."

"As you said, she's dating someone. Besides, we are both busy, we don't hang out all the time." He tried to brush off the topic. Jo, as merciful as she could be sometimes, dropped the subject. Her best friend was here for the weekend and she didn't want to argue.

.

After the cocktail ended, they all went back to Concord and had a little party at Laurie's mansion, his grandfather decided to stay in Boston to visit some friends. Which meant they had the house for themselves and although they weren't going to throw a big party, they did invite friends and brought drinks. For a few hours, Amy and Laurie were able to enjoy the time in Concord, staying away from each other, of course. Parker arrived and Amy dedicated her attention to him and Laurie turned to the alcohol. Even Jo got worried about his drinking, but he didn't listen.

.

The party ended past midnight. Beth went to sleep two hours before. Amy put on her coat and walked with Parker towards the door.

"I'm tired. I'll just go see if Jo wants to go or if she's staying."

"Right," Parker replied calmly and kissed her. "Good night."

"Text me when you get there."

Contrary to a couple of hours ago, the house was empty. She heard the echo of her heels walking around the house looking for her sister. She found her on the couch of the library. She tried to wake her up, but her big sister was out. As she made her way out, she heard glass breaking in the kitchen.

"Hey," Amy said, recognizing the figure in the dark room. The only light came from outside through the window. "Are you ok?"

"I broke a cup," he said, in a very drunken state, leaning on the kitchen table. "I'm sorry. I'm so drunk."

"Your pupils are huge."

"They're always huge when I see you."

"Ah, you must be really drunk."

"What do you mean?" Amy didn't answer.

"Jo is the library, she wouldn't wake up," she mentioned and he nodded. "Goodbye, Laurie."

"I saw you with Parker," Laurie said, making Amy stop. Both stayed silent. "You could have a different boyfriend, you know? I mean, from what I hear all men fall in love with you. They all drop everything to come to see you wherever you are."

"Stop talking, Laurie, you're so drunk."

"People love you or hate you." He stated because it was true. Amy had that kind of personality that forced people to take sides. Maybe she was too realistic, too focused that sometimes, people thought of her as cold and calculating.

"Mhm… but you don't hate me," she replied almost like a question because in her mind, he didn't love her so hate was the other alternative by his description.

"No," he snorted. "I would rather you dated anyone else, really Amy. You have no idea how he talks when there are no women around."

"Why do you care?" she asked quite annoyed.

"Do you love him?"

"Please, Laurie. You want a heart to heart talk with me now?"

"It's just rather odd for you to be with someone you feel nothing for."

"Who says I have no feelings for Parker?"

"Come on. You think if you date him long enough you'll start falling for him?"

"Not every relationship starts with passion. I believe you can work to get there." He shook his head because he knew she was lying.

"I probably should have said something before, but I'm seeing someone, been with her for a couple of months," he confessed. "Her name is Helena, she's a law graduate." He watched Amy biting the inside of her mouth like she tended to do every time she was angry and didn't want to show it.

"Why are you trying to make me break up with Parker?"

"I'm not. I just want you to be happy..."

"Cause you're such a good friend? That's it,"

"Yeah," but Amy burst into tears. "Shit, Amy. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"Leave me alone, Laurie. Please." She said turning to the counter, not wanting to face him.

"I'm sorry." He said, refusing to leave. He gently touched her back, but she stepped away.

.

"You know, I never knew what happened between us," Laurie said. "I keep going back… I can't find the moment when it ended. We didn't even have a fight... You said you were going back to Concord after we talked about spending the summer there and then you wanted to see other people…" Laurie said. But Amy only shocked her head with tears on her eyes.

"No," Amy said quietly. "I went back because I couldn't pay rent. I lost my job, Laurie. I was actually hoping that I could stay with you." She said looking down.

"You never… you never said anything about wanting to stay…" Suddenly he wasn't so drunk anymore.

"I was embarrassed. I didn't want to ask for money, or appear desperate and seem like I was pushing you to live together."

"Pushing me? Are you kidding? Having you there would have been… Of course, always." He wanted to hug her, to kiss her. To apologize for being so blind and hadn't offered her to stay with him. But he couldn't. They both had partners and it wouldn't be right. He might never love his girlfriend like he loved Amy, but he cared for her a lot. And he definitely was not a cheater.

"I need to go." Amy left as fast she could. She cried before falling asleep because if only she had said something, open her fucking mouth, they would be together. It was too late now.

Notes:

I wasn't going to update this weekend, because homework and stuff, but Timothee just started to follow Florence on instagram. I don't know why that is so important, I know some people find it ridiculous, but I'm happy about it. Plus, Florence starts production on Don't Worry Darling. And, I read Timothee's interview for GQ and it is awesome.